Chapter 79: Moisturize the world, take care of your father

I don’t know when it started.

The officials of the Ming Dynasty, especially the civil servants, seemed to have turned into iron-headed kids.

They are no longer afraid of the emperor.

He even felt complacent and proud of being able to curse the emperor.

And see it as the best way to improve your reputation.

Gao Hanwen said that the officials outside who were owed salaries might run to Xiyuan to block Yuxi Palace.

Yan Shaoting absolutely believes this.

For the time being, I couldn't figure out where the 3 million taels of silver deposit that I had just sent to the Ministry of Revenue had gone.

Yan Shaoting has already taken Gao Hanwen to report the matter to several cabinet elders.

"Where's the money?"

Gao Gong was the first to ask, slamming the table.

Yuan Wei, who had just joined the cabinet, just watched the reactions of several people in the classroom silently.

He knew very well why he joined the cabinet, and having just joined the cabinet, he was not prepared to interfere in state affairs too quickly.

Get your footing first.

It’s better to stay away from such situations where officials cause trouble due to unpaid salaries.

Xu Jie frowned and stood up slowly: "Let's not worry about the money for now. We don't know what's going on outside. Let's go out and stop them first."

After saying that.

Xu Jie turned to look at Yan Song again: "There must be a lot of noise outside, why don't you stay in the cabinet? If we have any problems in the front, we should send someone to pass the message back and let Yan Song make the decision."

Yan Song originally wanted to go with him.

As the chief minister of the cabinet, he should be present when officials in the court cause trouble.

But then he saw his eldest grandson standing with Gao Hanwen who had rushed back to report.

Yan Song nodded and said, "Let Shao Ting go with you, Lord Xu. He and Gao Hanwen are still young. If anything happens outside, let them protect you, Lord Xu."

If the eldest grandson goes, it also means that I have gone.

Yan Song thought so in his heart.

Xu Jie glanced at Yan Song, then turned to look at Yan Shaoting, his eyes shifted, and then he spoke: "That's good, then Runwu and Gao Hanlin will have to work hard."

Because it's urgent.

Seeing Yan Shaoting and Gao Hanwen nodded.

Xu Jie took a few people and quickened his pace to rush out of the palace.

And outside the imperial city.

The officials who were still besieging the Ministry of Revenue in front had now entered the Daming Gate, along with other officials from the Ministry of Revenue who also wanted to get their official salaries, and were passing through the Chengtian Gate and were about to reach the Wumen Gate.

When the officials rushed to the Meridian Gate in excitement.

The Imperial Guards and Embroidered Uniform Guards guarding the imperial city had already formed a human wall in front of the Meridian Gate.

The officials who were asking for their salaries also knew the rules.

Without being taught, they sat cross-legged in front of the Meridian Gate according to their rank.

When Yan Shaoting escorted Lao Xu and others to the Meridian Gate.

In front of the Meridian Gate, there was a dark crowd, with Ming officials sitting quietly on the ground.

Just a glance.

Xu Jie's body shook and he staggered, almost falling.

Gao Gong snorted angrily and reached out to support Old Xu.

Yuan Wei, the new cabinet member, stood sideways behind Old Xu and Old Gao, lowering his head to avoid trouble.

It was also the first time that Yan Shaoting saw officials of the Ming Dynasty sitting in silence at the Meridian Gate.

Such a big scene also shocked him.

"There are so many people here. I'm afraid all the officials in Beijing are here."

It would have been better if he hadn't said this out loud, but as soon as he said it, he attracted Gao Gong's angry glare.

Gao Gong snorted as he looked at the officials who were sitting quietly, and shouted, "Are you all too idle to do anything? Do you want me to send you all back to the government office one by one?"

As the cabinet leaders began to ask questions.

The officials sitting in the front row began to shout.

It’s just that the emperor doesn’t need hungry soldiers, and officials also need to eat, drink, defecate and urinate.

If the cabinet does not pay the overdue salaries today, they will live in a tent in front of the Meridian Gate.

Gao Gong was so angry that his beard was shaking. He was about to open his mouth to scold, but was stopped by Xu Jie. Xu Jie asked with a sullen face: "Where are the people from the Ministry of Revenue?"

Yan Shaoting on the side was full of doubts.

Judging from the appearance of Old Xu and Old Gao, they did not seem to be the ones who instigated the officials to strike and sit in at the Meridian Gate to demand their wages.

Moreover, they are the cabinet, and in most cases, they are the least willing to see court officials causing trouble.

Looking at the crowd sitting in protest, it seemed like a strike and sit-in protest involving the officials' own interests.

But where did the money go?

Yan Shaoting could never figure it out.

As Xu Jie shouted, one of the several officials in red robes who were trying to stop and persuade the sit-in officials in front of him quickly turned around and ran to Xu Jie.

That is the current Minister of Revenue Gao Yao.

Yan Shaoting knew this man and considered him an official who was capable and willing to work.

Just don’t wait for Gao Yao to reply.

At the edge of the crowd, a familiar figure of Yan Shaoting came into view.

Yan Shifan came over and shouted at Xu Jie, Gao Gong and the others, "The cabinet is in charge of the court on behalf of your majesty, and everyone works hard on weekdays. Now that salaries have not been paid for half a year, does the cabinet want all the colleagues to work on an empty stomach? Or is it forcing them to commit corruption and exploit the people?"

Yan Shifan, who was standing next to the sit-in officials, spoke in a sarcastic tone.

They used their weapons and sticks to pin the crime of corruption and fraud on Xu Jie and Gao Gong.

It is you two old guys who force people to become corrupt officials!

Following Yan Shifan's questioning, the officials who were sitting in silence in front of the Meridian Gate immediately made louder noises.

It seemed that Yan Shifan was also present.

Yan Shaoting's face immediately turned black.

Instead of staying in the Ministry of Works, this old guy followed this group of officials who were asking for their wages to the Meridian Gate to watch the fun.

Do you, Yan Shifan, rely on salary to make a living?
Yan Shaoting was not the only one who was speechless.

Xu Jie and Gao Gong were also extremely helpless.

Gao Gong even said, "Yan Shifan! Although you are not working in the cabinet, you are the son of Lord Yan. Are you going to lead all the officials to cause trouble?"

Gao Gong immediately pinned the blame of leading the riot on Yan Shifan.

Yan Shifan was not panicked at all, and even sneered and said: "Mr. Gao, what a serious crime! I am not sitting here quietly, nor have I asked for salary. I just think that my colleagues should not go hungry.

If I remember correctly, the job of the Ministry of Revenue was shared by you, Lord Gao, and Lord Zhang who has gone to the southeast.

The Ministry of Revenue clearly has the three million taels of silver my son sent, so why has it not paid the salary owed until now?"

This is also the reason why he is here today but did not participate in the sit-in.

You can talk, but you must not participate in meditation.

In this way, these words were only directed at Xu Jie and Gao Gong.

Arch openings of varying heights.

Yan Shifan continued to talk nonsense: "These people in the court usually only know how to do their jobs according to the emperor's orders, but they don't know how the Ministry of Revenue manages money and grain.

In the past, we only heard about plucking feathers from passing geese, and the oil on the hands of the Ministry of Revenue could not be washed clean, so those snow-white silvers would be covered with dust every time they passed through the Ministry of Revenue.

I think they are not causing trouble today. They have been hungry for half a year. As long as the cabinet and the Ministry of Revenue pay their salaries, they will definitely submit a memorial to Your Majesty to apologize."

After finishing his words, Yan Shifan moved away from the sit-in site to avoid being accused by Gao Gong of leading a riot.

Gao Gong accused Yan Shifan of leading the riot.

He then hinted that the Ministry of Revenue, which Gao Gong concurrently headed, was embezzling money and grain.

"Correct!"

"Young Lord Gao Yi!"

"It's still the young master who is waiting for me."

"My fellow ministers, we are not here to cause trouble today. We are also eager to serve the court, but how can we do our work when we are hungry?"

"As long as the cabinet pays the salary owed to us today, we will immediately return to our respective offices to do our work and then submit a petition of apology to His Majesty!"

Voices of agreement were heard from the sitting-in crowd.

For a time, Yan Shifan seemed to be a righteous man who cared about the officials in the court.

Gao Gong was so angry that he felt like a Buddha was born and two Buddhas ascended to heaven, and his whole body was shaking.

Xu Jie frowned and looked back at Yan Shaoting.

"It's for the sake of His Majesty and Lord Yan."

"You should take care of your father."

(End of this chapter)